Padres Rumors: Should Padres Attempt to Sign Daniel Murphy?
Watching Daniel Murphy single handily demolish the Los Angeles Dodgers with his confidence at the plate and his intelligence on the base paths, made San Diego Padres fans rejoice. He plays with the confidence and demeanor that you want from a player on your team. That type of swagger and moxie cannot be scored on a stat sheet or in a scouting report. A player like that needs to be seen on a daily basis to truly appreciate their efforts.
Murphy just happens to be in the last year of his contract and is due for free agency this winter. He has surely boosted his value this post season with his play on the field. Murphy has the ability to play second base, third base and first base. He could also play the outfield if needed. The Mets will likely make a serious run at retaining the former 13th round selection in the 2006 draft. If the team goes deeper in the playoffs, Murphy will obviously be a big piece of their historic run. The team will not let Murphy just walk away, they will make a conscious effort to retain him. Mets fans will not let him leave quietly.
So would Murphy make a good fit for the 2016 Padres? Well the infield is already crowded with Jedd Gyorko, Cory Spangenberg, Yangervis Solarte, Yonder Alonso and possibly Wil Myers. With that being said, the fit is not evident immediately. However Murphy and the way he plays the game is exactly the type of ball player the Padres need on their 25 man roster. The game of baseball is a team sport, and you can never have enough “team players” on your squad. If signed the Padres would need to move an infielder or two to make room for Murphy.
Murphy is currently making $8 million dollars this year. His numbers are not particularly flashy but he does get the job done. Murphy hit .281 this season in 130 games. He smacked 14 home runs and drove in 73 runs.
The infielder is described as an average defender, but his value lies in the way he plays the game. Murphy is a contact hitter and has a career .331 on base percentage. Not too shabby from a middle infielder. He puts the ball in play and battles up there. His postseason home runs off of Clayton Kershaw, Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and Zack Greinke show that Murphy is a big time producer when the game is on the line.
If the Padres intend to compete they need to fill their roster with players of this ilk. Daniel Murphy would be a nice pick up for the team but he alone will not bring a championship. He needs a team built around him and in all reality Murphy is nothing more than a bit player. He is currently on fire and carrying the Mets, but he is not that type of hitter to hit in the middle of your lineup. When competing for a championship you need players like this to take their game to a whole new level. Murphy has surely done that.
The chances of the Padres signing Daniel Murphy are slim to none. The New York Mets are going to do what it takes to retain him. His value is sky high right now, but the Padres can not afford to get in a bidding war for his services. The Padres are presently stacked at the second base position and that happens to be Murphy’s best position. Spangenberg and Gyorko do not look like they are going anywhere. Each has proven their worth with the team. The Padres would benefit from adding Murphy, but you cannot fit a square peg into a round hole. If he does not fit the teams need, then the Padres would be wise to look elsewhere for upgrades. Murphy is the type of player the Padres need on their team to take their game into the next level. He just isn’t a great fit for how the Padres are constructed currently. Padres management must be aware of Murphy’s intangibles when acquiring new talent. Players like this can make an average team and turn them into something special.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.
